This is a prposed route with a camping out spot somewhere in the middle, Will update this when we have done it. End of Aug -Begining Sept)

Looks great. Be great to hear how it goes! Don't forget to get some pictures.

Entered by MalGrey on 23/08/2012

Well we did it!!
We; (Me Joe, my son Matt and Wayne my mate) started our little adventure at 08:30Hrs to the south of Thetford on "Canterbury Road". (grid 860-833) Great drop off point/parking place, with a grassed area and a path to get yourself sorted. The entry point itself is a really easy entry but you will get wet feet to get to deeper water and launch. We headed “West” with the flow.
The going is really good lots of wild life along the way toward the weir near Abby Farm, we even saw a turtle! It was just sitting on a part submerged log... size of a dinner plate, amazing. We managed to lower our Canadian canoe over the weir (GRD 854-844) using our long rope, with all of us out of the boat; I did the lowering up stream while my son and mate did the catching downstream and on the other side of the weir. We chose to do it this way as we had a loaded boat and lifting it out wasn’t a good idea as the bank was a bit too high. It all went well and we continued through Thetford forest seeing loads of King fisher’s and even a Grass snake crossing our path, there are fallen trees in places but nothing to worry about one is like a natural bridge..
Towards “Stanton Downham”, we passed a picnic site with a toilet and parking( GRD 826-874), and a little further we passed under a bridge(GRD817-878) were a couple were launching a canoe from (north side of it), looked ok.
Brandon lock (Gr 785-869),We were lucky here, thought we would have a problem using the Lock as you need a key to operate it but we were allowed to sneak behind a cruiser and passed through ok, stopped and had lunch.
We pressed on through some pretty thick weed for several miles taking the opportunity to follow larger holiday boats and paddling in their wakes. Onward to “Hockwold- cum –Wilton” and the Sluices the gate was up for our continuing route which was fortunate, we pushed on and found our overnight camping spot (16:30Hrs..ish) a bit of grassland on the NW side of an RSPB reserve(GRD 701-864). There were other boats moored so it seemed ok but don’t take it as red that you can camp there, we did and we left no trace of being there. “Point to note: it looked like our flat bit of land would be very wet in Spring or Winter”. There was a common land camp site just after Lakenheath but there were a few lads in cars using it for I don’t know what, and we thought we would have unwelcomed visitors if we stayed there.
Next morning rising early and having had Breakfast, we moved off (08:00Hrs).
Still a little weedy in places to wards “Orchard Ho” and to what we thought would be our journeys end “Brandon Creek” and The Ship pub(GRD 606-918) (12:05Hrs).... (01353 676228, info@theshipbrandoncreek.co.uk very accommodating to canoeists due the fact of a new owner who had an association to a club in, I think Oxfordshire).
We arrived at the pub a few hours early (7 whole Hrs :-0 ) before my wife could pick us up after she finished work, so we thought with the wind at our backs ... “in for a penny” and joined the Great Ouse and paddled on to “Jenyns Arms” pub at “Salter lode- Ten mile Bank” where there is a massive Sluice and a formidable set of lock gates.
This time we had no one to negotiate the lock with and had to carry everything over a high bank down some steps and gangway to reach the river again, not easy!! Carried on to Downham Market and dropped my mate off to his wife and my son and I ended up getting as far as “Wiggenhall St. Mary Magdalen” N.G.R. 60219-11364 (17:20Hrs). Which has a pontoon style mooring with a gang way to shore. there is a track off the main Watlington to Wiggenhall road (Station Road /Church Road) ( off the A10 at Watlington) enabling a un-load and load to a car.......home ...food...bed..... FINISHED.

Entered by Joe on 10/09/2012

Excellent! Sounds like a proper little adventure!

Entered by MalGrey on 10/09/2012

DROP OFF POINT. Great drop off point/parking place, with a grassed area and a path to get yourself sorted.

Entered by Joe on 11/09/2012

Entry point.

Entered by Joe on 11/09/2012

Entered by Joe on 11/09/2012

Weir (GRD 854-844) Nice low bank to get out before the Weir.

Entered by Joe on 11/09/2012

, Brandon lock (GRD 785-869)

Entered by Joe on 11/09/2012

A bit of grassland on the NW side of an RSPB reserve(GRD 701-864)

Entered by Joe on 11/09/2012

Early morning, with a crisp nip in the air.

Entered by Joe on 11/09/2012

On the move again.

Entered by Joe on 11/09/2012

The Ship pub(GRD 606-918) (12:05Hrs).... (01353 676228, info@theshipbrandoncreek.co.uk very accommodating to canoeists due the fact of a new owner who had an association to a club in, I think Oxfordshire).

Entered by Joe on 11/09/2012

Mooring at the Ship.

Entered by Joe on 11/09/2012

Great Ouse and paddled on to “Jenyns Arms” pub at “Salter lode- Ten mile Bank” where there is a massive Sluice and a formidable set of lock gates.

Entered by Joe on 11/09/2012

“Wiggenhall St. Mary Magdalen” N.G.R. 60219-11364 (17:20Hrs). Which has a pontoon style mooring with a gang way to shore. there is a track off the main Watlington to Wiggenhall road (Station Road /Church Road) ( off the A10 at Watlington) enabling a un-load and load to a car.